Boko Haram: Mubi and Maiha towns is safe for return but....... skeptical if elections can hold-security agents
Since the returned of normalcy and peace in ravaging towns in some part of Adamawa northern senatorial district,there has not been any official announcement of the towns is safe for the indigenes of the areas to return, yesterday (Friday) a meeting of election stake holders organised by INEC in Adamawa state, the securities agencies assured the general public that Mubi and Maiha is now safe for citizens to go about their lawful activities.
The disclosure by the security agencies was made at a stakeholders meeting convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC which brought stakeholders cutting across all the political parties in the state and the security agencies operating in the state to deliberate on the forth coming elections February elections.
The State police commissioner of police A. G. Adaji who spoke at the meeting held at the INEC conference hall said Mubi and Maiha with the exception of Michika and Madagali was now safe for citizens to go about their lawful activities.
However while the police commissioner disclosed that there was no incidence for now in Mubi and Maiha that could create any condition to panic about, yet he failed to offer any assurance of elections holding in the area. He said
“As for now, that I am talking to you the state apart from Michika and Madagali is safe”.
The director state security services for Adamawa state Mr. Olugbenga Jaiyeoba who corroborated the position of the Adamawa state police Commissioner however expressed worry about what he described as the political Boko Haram working to subverting any plans to hold elections in the those areas.
SSS boss who explained that his position did not defer from that of the police commissioner explained that his skepticism about elections holding in Mubi and Maiha was based on the fact that there was three kinds of Boko Haram, “one the political Boko Haram, two the criminal Boko Haram which has been hijacked by armed robbers and a third the real Boko Haram”.
He said the real Boko Haram will never tell you when they are coming and observed that the real success of the elections however depended on the politicians who he charged not to hide under the cloak of the political Boko Haram to scuttle the elections in the area
He further added that if the politicians create a conducive atmosphere for the elections the security agencies will only have to just key into it and everybody will be better for it.
The new posted Resident Electoral Commissioner for the state Alh. Yusuf Shehu Baba promised to communicate whatever decision was reached with the security agencies on whether to conduct elections in the area.
The INEC REC said a the conduct of credible free and fair elections laid with stakeholders of the political parties while observing that INEC alone could not guarantee smooth elections devoid of violence if the political parties and their aspirants did not key into plans to ensure the elections held without violence and acrimony.